Does static stretching before lifting hurt performance?
It depends on the dose. Long static holds immediately before explosive or maximal work can reduce force, while short stretches followed by dynamic movement and warm-up sets are unlikely to matter.
Static stretching temporarily increases range of motion. It can also temporarily reduce force when the dose is large enough. Both statements are true, which is why “never stretch before lifting” is as crude as the old instruction to hold every position for thirty seconds before sport.
Meta-analyses find small reductions in maximal strength, power, and explosive performance after static stretching. The effect is driven largely by long accumulated holds—around a minute or more per muscle—performed close to the performance test. Brief stretches create much smaller or trivial effects, especially when followed by dynamic movement and progressive warm-up sets.
For lifting, specificity solves most of the problem. If ankle or shoulder range is stopping you from reaching a safe position, a short targeted stretch may improve the session more than a theoretical one-percent force reduction harms it. Then rehearse the exercise and climb through warm-up loads. If mobility is not limiting anything, there is no need to stretch merely because the workout is starting.
Flexibility training is still training
Long static holds belong where their relaxation and range-of-motion effect is useful: after the main performance work, in a separate session, or before an activity that values flexibility more than maximal force. Regular stretching can improve flexibility and may produce small strength adaptations of its own; the acute pre-lift question does not make stretching bad.
The takeaway
Do not perform several minutes of deep passive stretching for the muscles you are about to test maximally. For normal training, brief targeted holds followed by movement and ramp-up sets are fine. Warm up for the task you need, not for a rule about stretching.